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Sunday, December 26, 2004
A Word to the Wise
Well, there's wise men and there's wise men. (See Matthew 2:1-9)
King Herod had some on his staff, it seems. Steeped in Bible knowledge, they could cross-refer all over the Book. Tracking down some remote prophecy or other, they wasted no time answering the king's latest question.
"What's it say about a new king? A wandering star? Mysterious foreigners bringing special gifts?"
Sure enough, the wise scholars found an obscure reference to Bethlehem -- King David's home town a thousand years ago. (It's Micah 5:2, if you're curious.)
But Herod's palace was in Jerusalem -- the capital city, the royal city ever since David's day. That's the knot at the heart of the wise men's puzzle.
The other wise men, that is. Three pilgrims from the east, who'd brought presents for the prophesied newborn king of the Jews. They came to the royal palace in the royal city.
Knock, knock. "We're here to honor the royal baby. May we come in?"
Herod was stunned. No baby here! What's going on? Get the scholars on the job.
So they found the prophecy, gave the visiting wise men directions, and sent them off on their mission.
Now I'm the puzzled one: Why in the world didn't Herod's hired wise men go out there with the other ones?
I mean, if this baby's birth was a prophecy fulfilled, wouldn't they jump at the chance to be be there? Weren't they at least curious about it all?
Apparently not. They simply re-rolled the scrolls, locked them up, and -- What? Went back to bed? Played a couple rounds of Bible Jeopardy?
Whatever they did, it proved once and for all that they were anything but wise.
There's a world of difference between knowing what the Bible says and letting its wisdom transform your life.
The letter of James promises that God wants all of us to be wise. "If any of you lack wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you." (James 1:5)
But God's words of wisdom aren't intended for mental storage. God gives us insight for action. James says, "Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (James 1:22)
The palace wise men really were fools. Ironically, they became an important part of the prophetic story after all.
Their lesson is simple: Wise up! When the Bible speaks, listen; when you understand its message, put it to work.
Short of that, you're simply playing church.
posted by Jack Buckley at
1:20 PM
Monday, December 20, 2004
For What It's Worth
"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
That exclamation simply pops out of St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:15.
He's been urging church people in the Greek city of Corinth to chip in to a fund to help Christians in Jerusalem survive a famine there.
Understand, these people didn't know each other. Greeks, Jews; Europe, Judea -- they were worlds apart in many ways beyond mere geography.
But Paul urged the Corinthians to care for the Jews the same way they'd take care of themselves. Here's why: Their shared faith in Jesus Christ united them in one family of God's children in God's world.
Its a central, radical theme for Paul:
"In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.... There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26,28)
All the barriers we love to build around ourselves get torn down by God's grace. Our traditional "us vs. them" way of life falls apart when God accepts us all just the way we are.
So, generous giving on our part says "thank you" to God for the gift of Jesus Christ. It's impossible to outgive God. But very possible to give the same way God gives.
Every Christmas takes us back to the heart of the matter.
Look again at that baby lying in a borrowed stable. He's so tiny, open to all kinds of injury. At the mercy of poor people's kindness. Surprisingly honored with precious gifts from "wise men" who come and go wrapped in mystery.
But the baby himself is the greatest gift of all. God's indescribable gift! He slips heaven's riches sideways into our spiritually impoverished world. From manger to cross to empty tomb, Jesus catches us by divine surprise.
And we all know that the best of gifts are those you didn't expect.
You're known so well that a present matches you perfectly. Your favorite color, flavor, theme, or feeling. Right there in your hands, mouth, or heart, because the giver absolutely knew you'd appreciate it.
You love the gift. And you love the one who gave it.
Imagine you're in Jerusalem, saying grace for food put on your table by money from friends you've never met -- just because they love you and they want you healthy.
Then remember Paul's excitement that God's gift to you in Jesus Christ is so much better that your words can never catch up with it.
Now, there's your ultimate Christmas present.
posted by Jack Buckley at
10:50 AM
Monday, December 13, 2004
Silent Night
It's a sweet little song. About a sleepy moonlit village, its bed-bound citizens oblivious to this one night's magical meaning.
"O Little Town of Bethlehem" was written in 1868 by Phillips Brooks, a gifted Boston preacher. He believed that preaching communicates God's eternal word through human personality. This carol shows how well he knew his human audience.
Consider his words about "the hopes and fears of all the years" now attended to at last in the coming of Christ...
Unseen above, angels "keep their watch of wondering love," sing praise to God, and do their part for peace on earth...
He even has us pray for Christ to enter our hearts to stay, "born in us today" the way he was that night in Bethlehem...
There's one phrase I can't shake off: "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given!" That's how God "imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven." No great fanfare, bells, or whistles.
This time, God intrudes from heaven to earth wearing sneakers. Silence upon silence; that's how it happens. And all along the way, for thirty short years, Jesus catches the world by surprise.
Of course, some folks get the point, catch his drift, follow his lead. But most don't.
If you're like me, you want to think you'd recognize Christ if he came today, greeting him gladly with open-armed faith, hope, and love. But I wonder...
Would he sign on to our agendas? Would he want to join our churches? Would he know our secret handshake? Or care? How would we know it was him? Suppose he came in disguise?
Mother Teresa once told a reporter she kept on keeping on in the darkest corners of Calcutta by never forgetting to look in her patients for the Christ who's always there. I suppose it's safest to treat every person we meet as if he or she was Jesus in plain clothes.
How silently, how silently.
posted by Jack Buckley at
10:10 AM
Monday, December 06, 2004
Are You Ready for Christmas?
A retired man living in Phoenix called his son in New York and said, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you I'm divorcing your mother. Forty-five years of misery is enough."
The son exclaims, "Pop, you can't divorce Mom after all these years! It's crazy!"
"It may be crazy, but I'm going to tell her on Christmas Day. It'll be the last one we ever spend together."
Frantically, the son calls his sister in Chicago, and she explodes. "No way they're getting a divorce! We'll both fly to Phoenix and talk some sense into Dad. I don't care if it is the holidays!"
She calls her father and shouts over the phone, "Don't do it, do you hear me? My brother and I will be there tomorrow." Then she hangs up.
The old man hangs up on his end and turns to his wife. "Okay," he says with a smile, "they're coming for Christmas. And they're paying their own way!"
That's one way to get ready for Christmas.
Our church does it, amidst all the hustle and bustle of shopping, sending cards, trimming trees and such, by slowing down the season a bit.
For four Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas we light candles on the Advent wreath, sing special songs, and re-live the world's anticipation of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.
As the days grow shorter and colder, we make our way patiently toward the festival of God's light shining into darkness, of God's love transforming this lonely world.
Getting ready for Christmas, one day at a time.
I invite you to do the same wherever you may be. If where you are is Alameda, then please come join us next Sunday morning.
Your eyes will feast on our decorations. Your ears will love our music. Your soul will be blessed with our worship.
posted by Jack Buckley at
10:20 AM
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